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Burnley 1-1 Aston Villa: Last-gasp Leveler As Subs Save Villa

Emile Heskey snatches point for Villa at the death.

Nov 21, 2009 10:21:33 AM

EPL: Martin O'Neill, Burnley v Aston Villa (Getty Images)

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EPL: Martin O'Neill, Burnley v Aston Villa (Getty Images)

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Burnley's home record this season is bettered only by Chelsea and Manchester United; five wins out of six giving them a surprise placing in the top half of the table. The Clarets would come within two points of Aston Villa with a win today at Turf Moor, a ground at which Villa have been waiting since 1936 for a victory.

And although the visitors' wait will have to continue a while longer, manager Martin O'Neill will be relieved to have come away with a point after substitutes Emile Heskey and debutant Stuart Downing combined late on to cancel out an early Steven Caldwell goal.

The game started off scrappily, Villa playing long hopeful balls forward in search of striker John Carew and Burnley all hustle but no finesse as the encounter awaited a moment of quality.

However Burnley manager Owen Coyle will worry little over finesse if his side keep up their impressive home record, and they went one step towards doing that after just nine minutes. Robbie Blake whipped a free-kick into the box from the left, and amongst some questionable defending on Villa's part, captain Steven Caldwell was first to the ball to head past Brad Friedel from close-range.

Villa manager Martin O'Neill appeared understandably unhappy with his side's defending, and was an animated figure on the touchline but for all his gesticulating Burnley continued to look good value for their lead. The Clarets back-line was barely tested in the first twenty minutes of the game, and frustration began to show when Villa's Richard Dunne went into the book for a trip on Tyrone Mears.

Ashley Young was lively down the left wing for Villa, all too often being given far too much space to get crosses into the box, but the final ball was consistently average from the England winger, finding grateful Burnley 'keeper Brian Jensen more often than his own teammates.

Burnley defender Andre Bikey, a summer signing from Reading, saw his shot flash just inches wide from a Steven Fletcher knock-down after 24 minutes, and at the other end moments later his teammate whilst at Reading Steve Sidwell sent a volley flying wide for the visitors.

Soon after Burnley had a flurry of chances; Fletcher and Bikey both missing the target whilst Friedel did well to hold onto Chris Eagles' effort. After a period of Burnley pressure, Young could twice have leveled things for Villa in as many minutes. After Jensen rushed out of his goal and left himself stranded he knocked the ball over the empty goal, and a minute later sent an ambitious effort sailing over.

Burnley remained on top however for the remaining minutes of the first-half, and Coyle will have gone in at half-time a happy manager.

The first 'keeper to be seriously tested in the second half was at the Burnley end, as Gabriel Agbonlahor sent a vicious low drive on target, only to be tipped around the post by Jensen at full stretch. Moments later the ball was at the other end, and this time Friedel managed to push away a 20 yard effort from Blake.

The dreadful weather and unforgiving surface began to take its toll on the players as the game became increasingly stretched, Villa beginning to put more and more pressure on the home side. Despite seeing much more of the play however, that final ball proved to be hard to come by for the visitors.

Sidwell was guilty of missing one of the most clear-cut chances of the game on 68 minutes; after arriving unmarked at the far post, the midfielder nodded Young's cross high and wide when it looked easier to score. And the ex-Reading man made way for summer signing Stuart Downing moments later, the winger making his first appearance for the club.

Burnley's Fletcher made way for David Nugent 75 minutes in, but not before seeing his spectacular effort heading for the top corner of the Villa goal denied by Friedel's fingertips.

O'Neill brought on Emile Heskey for fellow England man Young as Villa looked for goals, but despite continuing to pose an attacking threat, the equalizer continued to elude them.

However Burnley were only able to hold back the tide for so long, and to O'Neill's delight it was substitutes Downing and Heskey, both looking dangerous since their introductions, that made the difference. After Burnley made a mess of clearing their lines, a Downing cross found Heskey, who nodded home from six yards 4 minutes from time.

Burnley can be forgiven for feeling hard done by at losing two points at the death, but a second half dominated by Villa ultimately gave the visitors a deserved share in the spoils.

Jonny Esthero, Goal.com

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